Archive for the 'Dodgers' Tag Under 'Dodgers' Category

Newly-acquired reliever Jim Johnson gave up a solo home run to Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun in his Dodgers debut Sunday, giving up the Dodgers 2-1 lead.

After not giving up a home run in his last 41 innings as a Brave, Johnson allowed a long ball to the second batter he faced as a Dodger. The last home run he allowed was April 18.

It was Calhoun's 14th home run of the season, his first since he hit three in three days July 18-20 against the Red Sox. He is now 3-for-5 with a double and home run against Johnson in his career.

The Dodgers had hoped Johnson, with a 2.25 ERA on the year coming into Sunday and an ERA of 1.48 in June and July, would bring a much-needed boost to their bullpen, ranked 23rd in the majors with a 3.91 ERA. But Johnson certainly did not start off on a great foot Sunday.

As Dodgers' announcer Vin Scully said of the play: "He's not hitting a lick, but that glove still has magic."

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson ranged over to make the last out of the inning, robbing Angels shortstop Erick Aybar of extra bases and robbing the Angels of a run, as Albert Pujols surely would have come around to score from first on the play had the ball dropped.

Though the rookie centerfielder had a hot enough first half to earn All-Star and Home Run Derby selections, his bat has gone cold lately. Pederson hit .169 in July and has gone hitless in his last three games.He didn't start Sunday off any better, striking out in his first at bat.

Howie Kendrick is tormenting his former team with his second home run of the series, this one, off of Angels starter Cory Rasmus, putting the Dodgers up 2-0 in the bottom of the third.

Kendrick's ninth home run of the year brought home shortstop Jimmy Rollins, giving Kendrick 45 RBIs on the year. He has the fourth-most home runs among National League second baseman, two behind the leader, St. Louis' Kolten Wong.

Kendrick enjoyed hitting in Dodger Stadium even before he dawned the Dodger blue. He is now hitting .327 and slugging .496 with eight home runs in the ballpark.

This is Rasmus' first start of the year, but he's struggled with the home run ball in the past. In his rookie season in 2013, he was averaging 2.5 home runs per nine inning. However, he got that number down to 0.8 in 2014.

Starting pitcher Mat Latos recorded his first strikeout as a Dodger Sunday, and what a way to get it, striking out the reigning American League MVP, Mike Trout in the first inning.

Latos was traded from the Marlins to the Dodgers in the three-way, 13-player trade between the Marlins, Dodgers and Braves that was finalized Thursday.

Latos took the mound Sunday wearing No. 55, which he wore with Cincinnati. The number last embroidered a Dodger uniform when prospect Scott Schebler was called up in early June to start one game in left field.

Last season, starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez, also acquired at the trade deadline, sported the number. But of course, 55 is most commonly remembered at Chavez Ravine for Orel Hershiser and his streak of 59 scoreless innings, which Clayton Kershaw is currently chasing, having brought his streak to 37 straight scoreless innings Saturday.

Kenley Jansen came into the game with the highest home run rate of any closer in the majors (1.8 per nine innings), having to face the MLB's two best home run hitters back-to-back with the tying run at the plate and one out.

But he got out of it.

Jansen struck out Mike Trout, who homered against him Friday night. Albert Pujols singled (first video), which only brought the score to 3-1 Dodgers. Jansen then got shortstop Erick Aybar to pop out to second (second video) for the final out of the game, notching his 19th save of the season. He's only blown one.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run home run to center field off of Angels reliever Fernando Salas to put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the sixth inning.

Grandal now has 15 home runs on the season, tying his career high, hit last year in San Diego. Grandal passes San Francisco's Buster Posey to lead National League catchers in long balls.

This was the second home run Salas has allowed in as many games. In his last outing Thursday against Houston, Salas inherited one runner with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. He allowed a single to Marwin Gonzalez and then gave up a three-run, walkoff home run to Jason Castro.

Adrian Gonzalez's run belonged to starter Andrew Heaney, who put him on.

Clayton Kershaw turned a sacrifice for the Angels into a double play for the Dodgers.

Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney popped up his would-be-sacrifice bunt. Kershaw caught the ball in the air and then threw to second baseman Howie Kendrick covering first to double off Taylor Featherston at first.

Heaney is 1-for-12 at the plate in his young career. In his only other start in a National League park this year, July 7 in Colorado, Heaney went 0-for-3 in four plate appearances with two strikeouts and one successful sacrifice.